[coachmom]

thought I would share this.. We have gone for 2 years now and it is awesome!
Coachmom

We have been busy making plans for GAFE 2009 and are happy to report that GAFE 2009 will take place at Sheraton Hotel in Parsippany, NJ from July 24-26, 2009.

We spent months looking for a new location, hoping we could find a place that would offer more options to your family if you are making GAFE a part of your family vacation. However, Sheraton Hotel offered us the best room rates (and let's admit it, they are nice rooms) and much more meeting space then any other hotel in the tri-state area.
We are already talking with new speakers and are eager to make this GAFE even better than the last. If you have ideas to share with us, please send me an email.

If you were registered for GAFE 2007, you should already be a member of our GAFE Yahoo Group. This forum is set up for GAFE discussions. For those of you with teens, this might be a perfect way for them to reconnect, or get to know one another before the event. If you are not able to log in, please send an email to Comcast.net Home Angie will be sure to get you registered.

In 2007 we set up coordinators for each of the major jobs. It worked great and we had the very best coordinators!! I cannot begin to tell you how hard they worked to make GAFE 2007 the success it was.

Anyway, we need coordinators for 2009. The following positions are open:

Banquet Coordinator - Work with hotel coordinator to set up menu. Responsible for hiring entertainment during banquet (band, DJ), decorating dining room if needed, ordering favors and scheduling.

Teen Coordinator - set up activities, forums and speakers for this growing age group.

Volunteer Coordinator - Solicit volunteers and schedule them as needed by other coordinators. (Registration table, assist with activities, set up tables.....)

If you are able to be a coordinator and work with the GAFE board and other coordinators in planning 2009, please send me an email at nickiwoo@aol.com

Finally, for GAFE 2009 to be successful, it will be mandatory for all registrants to volunteer. We have many things that can be done before the event, during the event and even a couple of things after the event. We have always tried to make it work without making volunteering mandatory. However, as we grow, so does the list of job duties. In order to keep our registration costs as low as possible, we do almost everything on our own. Asking each family to volunteer an hour or two is the only way we can continue without hiring help.

If you own a business and have access to a copy machine or some other service that could help us to keep costs down, please let me know. We spend a great deal of money on paper and copies and mailings.

Our web site coordinators are working to get the web site up to date. Registration will be open the first week of January and hopefully, we will have all of the hiccups worked out by then.

Remember, all of the families that plan GAFE are volunteers. Please be patient and understanding with us. Things happen and we have lives and families too!

Hope you can all join us for 2009!!!!

Lisa Pesola
President
GAFE, INC.

[dana3262]

I'm not familiar with GAFE - Is there a way to get information?

Thanks -

[becky]

The Guatemala Adoptive Families Event (I think that's what GAFE stands for) is a fun-filled weekend for our families. They have great speakers and fun activities for the parents and kids alike. They have a big dinner/dance on Saturday which is tons of fun. My girls are usually the last ones out on the dance floor.

We didn't get to go in 2007 because it was scheduled in August, and we were already back in school. I am THRILLED that they have moved it back to July. We will definitely be there...with our dancing shoes on!

[myrachel]

cant wait to hear more about it... we'll definetly be there

alex

[Melissa M]

haven't heard of this before but we literally live in the town next to Parsippany so this would be perfect for us. We would love to attend!

is there a website or is the yahoo group the best way to get the info?

thanks for posting this!

Melissa

[coachmom]

the yahoo group would be the best bet.. and ask to join .
Coachmom

[dance_muffin]

Hey Lisa,

Looking forward to my first GAFE event! I'm also in NJ and a friend of Susanne's. I'll pm you for volunteer signup!

[guatparents2be]

there used to be a website but it hasn't been updated since 2007. maybe they'll be posting info there soon?

we're hoping to arrange a visit back east at that time as DH is from a few towns over.

[PackGirl]

I was at the last one and had an absolut wonderful time!!!!!!!!!!

I cant wait to find out if we will be able to make it this year!!!!!

This really is a wonderful conference!!!!!

[Mum2Diego]

I am so excited. We haven't been able to make the last two but will put it on the schedule now.

Thanks.

[IHOP]

how much will the rooms be per night? We live in Boston and that is something we could drive to.

[Melissa M]

hi..I went to the GAFE2007 yahoo group and when I clicked on it, it says it no longer exists. I didn't see a 2009 group.

any thoughts?